Date: March 15, 2026
We are pleased to share exciting news about two outstanding alumni of the National Astronomy Olympiad (NAO) program, Sudip Rokaya and Rohan Bhattarai, who have been accepted into the Y Combinator Summer 2026 (P2026) batch for their startup Lamina Labs.
Sudip and Rohan recently co-founded Lamina Labs, a startup developing the fastest architecture for generating deterministic animated videos, specifically designed for the EdTech sector. Their work focuses on enabling high-quality, scalable educational video generation through advanced technological innovation.
Their acceptance into Y Combinator marks a historic milestone, as they are the first Nepalese founding team to be accepted into Y Combinator in its more than 21-year history. Y Combinator is one of the world’s most competitive startup accelerators and provides $500,000 in funding, along with mentorship and access to a global network of leading founders and investors.
Sudip Rokaya and Rohan Bhattarai have long been part of the NASO community through the National Astronomy Olympiad program. Sudip was the Absolute Winner of the 9th National Astronomy Olympiad (NAO 2022), while Rohan was the Absolute Winner of the 10th National Astronomy Olympiad (NAO 2023). Both represented Nepal at the 15th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2022) in Kutaisi, Georgia, and the 16th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA 2023) in Katowice, Poland, where they each received Honorable Mention Awards.
Sudip, originally from Simikot, Humla, moved to Pokhara from Grade 4 to pursue his education at Gandaki Boarding School, Lamachaur, where he later completed his high school education under the National Examination Board (NEB) program.
Rohan, originally from Butwal, Rupandehi, studied up to Grade 10 at New Horizon English Boarding Secondary School, Butwal, before moving to Kathmandu to pursue his A-Level studies at Trinity International College, Dillibazar.
Currently, Sudip Rokaya is studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), while Rohan Bhattarai is pursuing his studies at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech)—two of the world’s leading institutions for science and technology.
It is also noteworthy that Raj Kumar Dhakal, the NASO Province Coordinator for Gandaki Province, serves as a science teacher at Gandaki Boarding School, where Sudip studied. Similarly, Mukti Nath Paudel, the NASO Province Coordinator for Lumbini Province, is a science teacher at New Horizon English Boarding Secondary School, Butwal, where Rohan completed his secondary education.
Through the National Astronomy Olympiad program, NASO identified these two talented young minds at an early stage and engaged them in scientific learning and community activities during their high school years. Their continued achievements highlight the importance of nurturing curiosity and talent through national science programs.
We are proud to see the STEM pathways these two brilliant students from Nepal have followed and hope their journey will inspire many young students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Their achievements demonstrate how dedication to science and innovation can open global opportunities, enabling Nepali students to contribute not only to the development of Nepal but also to the broader global community while proudly representing Nepal on the international stage.
The Nepal Astronomical Society warmly congratulates Sudip Rokaya and Rohan Bhattarai on this remarkable achievement. Their success is not only a proud moment for NASO and the National Astronomy Olympiad program, but also an inspiration for the broader Nepali youth and startup ecosystem.
We wish them continued success as they take Lamina Labs to the global stage and look for possible collaboration to support education system in Nepal with their EdTech product/s.
